Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Did you know that the world's largest Cinco de Mayo celebration doesn't take place in Mexico? 

It actually takes place in Los Angeles, California!

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people attend the "Festival de Fiesta Broadway" on the 5th of May (or on the closest Sunday). 

This large party, complete with parades, food, dancing, music and more, is even bigger than the festivities in Puebla, where the holiday originated. 

PENTAX: US Urgent Field Correction: Use of Disposable Water Bottle Assembly and Instructions for Use Addendum for PENTAX Video Processors, Light Sources & Endoscopes with Air/Water Channels

"April 7, 2016

Dear Valued Customer,

PENTAX Medical video processors and light sources are utilized with a disposable water bottle assembly comprised of a tubing adaptor and sterile water bottle that is intended to provide water and air for the cleaning of the objective lens of PENTAX Medical endoscopes. It has come to our attention that the PENTAX Medical Video Processor EPK-i5010 has been shipped with a reusable PENTAX Medical water bottle assembly (OS-H4) which has not been cleared for use with the EPK-i5010 in the United States. As a result, all customers that have previously received an OS-H4 water bottle with an EPK-i5010 for use with an endoscope with an air/water channel should discard these bottles and should use the PENTAX Medical DispoCap Air Tubing in their place. Users of other PENTAX Medical video processors and light sources should also discard their reusable PENTAX water bottle assemblies (OS-H2 &OS-H4) and replace them with the PENTAX Medical DispoCap Air Tubing. In addition, PENTAX Medical is issuing an Addendum to the Operation and Reprocessing Instructions for Use (IFU) for certain models of endoscopes to remove non-applicable steps as they relate to the water bottle assembly in the pre-cleaning of the endoscope in the procedure room.

The pre-cleaning steps in the Operation and Reprocessing IFUs include an instruction to turn the lever on the water bottle to the 'drain' position in order to empty the water channel, however, this action is unique to the reusable PENTAX Medical water bottle and is not relevant for a disposable water bottle assembly. As a result, PENTAX Medical is issuing the attached IFU Addendum which instructs customers to disregard this step. The pre-cleaning instructions are otherwise accurate and complete as it pertains to the disposable water bottle assembly. This addendum should be placed in the Operation and Reprocessing IFUs originally provided with the endoscope at the time of purchase. Please ensure that user departments discard andy PENTAX OS-H2/OS-H4 water bottles and trasition to the PENTAX Medical DispoCap Air Tubing (Model 100160P) for use with a disposable sterile water bottle.

If you have any questions regarding this action, please feel free to contact Paul Silva, PENTAX Americas Recall Coordinator at:

Tel: 800-431-5880 ext. 2064

(8:30 AM - 5:00 PM, M-F, EST)

Fax: 201-799-4063

Please contact PENTAX Medical customer service to place orders for the PENTAX Medical DispoCap Air Tubing, Model 100160P.

Tel: 800-431-5880

Email: salessupport2@pentaxmedical.com

This correction is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

PENTAX Medical regrets any inconvenience that may result from this action and appreciates your patients as we introduce these updated instructions. Please be assured that maintaining patient safety and quality is our utmost priority."

Click here for the original press release.

PENTAX: US URGENT FIELD CORRECTION: IFU Addendum for Endoscopes with Instrument Channel

"April 7, 2016

Dear Valued Customer,

PENTAX Medical has become aware that operational/cleaning accessories and therapeutic devices can become lodged in an endoscope's instrument channel. If not detected, the blocked instrument channel can result in ineffective reprocessing and/or the introduction of debris and/or device components into a patient during a subsequent procedure, posing a risk of cross-contamination. As a result, PENTAX Medical is issuing Addendum 388 R01 to the Operation and Reprocessing Instructions for Use (IFU) for all models of endoscopes with instrument/suction channels.

The purpose of the Addendum is to remind customers to carefully check that all accessories are intact, that no parts have fallen off and become lodged within the endoscope's instrument/suction channel and to ensure that any therapeutic devices (e.g., clips, stents, balloons, etc.) passed through the instrument channel are accounted for after use. If the instrument/suction channel does become blocked or clogged due to the accumulation of debris, an accessory that cannot be removed, or other cause, do NOT attempt to correct the blockage or continue to use the endoscope. In such a case, contact your local PENTAX Medical service facility to have the endoscope repaired.

Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding this action, please feel free to contact Paul Silva, PENTAX Americas Recall Coordinator at:

Tel: 800-431-5880 ext. 2064

 (8:30 AM-5:00 PM, M-F, EST)

Fax: 201-799-4063

This correction is being made with the knowledge of the U.S Food and Drug Administration.

PENTAX Medical regrets any inconvenience that may result from this action and appreciates your patience as we introduce these updated instructions. Please be assured that maintaining patient safety and quality is our utmost priority."

May the Fourth Be With You!

It's National Star Wars Day!

May the Fourth Be With You!

Be sure to whip up a batch of Wookie Cookies to eat while watching your favorite Star Wars movie!

Product Highlight - Disposable Cleaning Brushes

Have you heard about our

Disposable Cleaning Brushes?

The patented one-directional design features 20 mm long brushes at both ends to thoroughly clean your biopsy channel

They come to you as a pack of 10, with each brush individually packaged for convenient single-use.

These brushes are available in 2 different sizes for large or small biopsy channels!

The ESS DCB-1.72306 one-directional channel cleaning brush is designed to fit most endoscopes with channels from 2.4 mm to 4.2 mm and larger!

-Brush Diameter: 6.0 mm

-Brush Length: 20.0 mm

-Catheter Diameter: 1.7 mm

-For biopsy channels 2.0 mm to 4.2 mm diameter with a working length up to 220 cm. 

-Bristle diameter of 6.0 mm, will clean in channels larger than 4.2 mm and up to 4.5 mm

The ESS DCB-1.01202 one-directional channel cleaning brush is designed for channels 1.2 mm to 1.8 mm in small, specialty endoscopes!

-Brush Diameter: 2.0 mm

-Brush Length: 20.0 mm

-Catheter Diameter: 1.0 mm

-Catheter Length: 120 cm

-For biopsy channels 1.2 mm to 1.8 mm diameter with a working length less than 110 cm

Want to learn more about our 

Disposable Cleaning Brushes?

Check out our online store or contact us!

Don't forget to come back next week for another

Product Highlight!